Bow-socket separator.



F. K. LEWIS. BOW SOCKET SEPARATOR. APPLICATION FILED AUGJO, I912.

Patented June 22, 1915.

5 3 WNW/ m THE NORRIS PETERS CO., PHOTU-LITHQ, WASHINGTON, D, C.

i I TTE ltd PA IT as.

FRED K. LEWIS, 0F ASHTAIB'U'LA, OI -IIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE ASH'IABULA BOW SOCKET COMPANY, OF ASI-ITABULA, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

BOW-SOCKET SEPARATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 22, 19115..

Application filed August 10, 1912. Serial No. 714,352.

contemplated applying that principle, so as 1 to distinguish it from other inventions.

The present invention relates to means for separating or spacing the bow socket members used in carriage and automobile tops. In such tops the bow socket members are attached at one end to a spreading device which is itself attached to the fixed support on the vehicle. It is necessary, therefore, to have some means for maintaining these members in a parallel position when the top is folded, and these means should also be adapted to slightly space the adjacent members from each other in order to prevent the sides of the top, which are usually folded between the bows, from being rubbed against the bows, which is certain to cause holes and to shorten the life of the cloth. Various types of separators, as they are called, have been in general use for this purpose, but the majority of these are not only expensive to attach, but areliable to become loose as the result of wear, and to rattle.

The object of the present invention is to provide a separator which is inexpensive to manufacture, and which may be readily attached, and when once in place will not wear loose during operation.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter full described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of the various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing :-Figure 1 is a side elevation of two bow socket members held in spaced relation by means of my separator; Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a detailed view of the separators shown in Figs. 1 and 2 when they are spaced from each other; and Figs. 4 and 5 are central sections of two complementary separators.

In Fig. 1 are shown two bow socket members 1 of the usual construction which will be held at one end by a spreader attached to the vehicle and which are held separated throughout their length by means of two complementary separators 2 and 3. The construction of these separators is more clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. A separator 2 is shown as having a body portion which is hollowed slightly to receive the other separator, and has also a proiecting lug adapted to engage an aperture 4- in the bow socket member. This lug will extend through the aperture and will preferably be branched in order that each of such branches may be bent over to contact the bow socket member interiorly at either side of the aperture. The separator is formed to adapt it to contact and engage the outside of the bow socket member in the manner shown. On the under side of each separator is formed a depression or recess 5 surrounding the lug, such recess being adapted to receive each branch of the lug when the latter are bent over to engage the bow socket. In case the lug is not branched the shape and size of the depression will be varied accordingly. By providing such a recess on the under side of the lugs it will be seen that the bending over of the branches against the comparatively thin tubing of the bow socket will force the latter outwardly into the depres sions, the latter being of a depth sufiicient to also receive the branches, thus presenting a substantially smooth surface to the bow which is forced into the socket. By this means a comparatively smooth inner surface is provided which oflers little resistance to the entrance of the bow, and yet the attachment of the separators is secure and loosening or disengagement is impossible unless the bow is removed. The other separator 3 will be identical with the separator already described, except that the body portion will terminate in a projection Which is adapted to snugly engage the hollowed out portion of the separator 2. The separators will be made preferably of a soft metal, such as malleable iron, in order that they may be easily and securely clamped against the bow socket member by upsetting or by bending over the branched portion of the lugs.

The use of the bow socket members is, as

. By reason of the simplicity of the separators, and by their easy method of attachment the cost of making and using the same will be considerably lower than that of any other type of separator now in use.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

Itherefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. The combination with an apertured bow socket member; 01": a separator having a body portion formed to contact the socket member exteriorly, and a flexible lug integrally mounted on such separator body and adaptedto snugly engage in the aperture in said socket memberand to extend through the same, thereby permitting such extending portion to be bent over to contact said socket member interiorly, such body portion of said separator being formed with a recess to permit the introduction of said bow socket member upon the bending of such extending portion of'said lug.

2. The combination with an apertured bow socket member; of a separator having a body portion formed to contact the socket member exteriorly, and a lug integrally mounted on such separator body and having a plurality of flexible branches adapted to engage in and extend through the aperture in said socket member, thereby permitting such branches to be bent over to contact said socket member on either side of the aperture, such body portion of said separator being formed with recesses to permit the introduction of the bow socket member upon the bending of such extending portions of said lug against said bow socket member.

3. The combination with an apertured bow socket member; of a separator having a body portion formed to contact the socket member exteriorly and a flexible lug integrally mounted on such separator body and adapted to snugly engage in the aperture in said socket member and to extend through the same, thereby permitting such extending portion to be bent over to contact such socket member interiorly, such body portion of said separator being formed with a recess to permit the introduction of said how socket member upon the bending of such extending portion of said lug, said bow socket member being formed of yieldable material adapted to be so bent outwardly upon the positioning of such extending portion of said lug, thereby leaving the inside of said socket member substantially smooth.

Signed by me this 3rd day of August,

FRED K. LEWIS. Attested by FRANK W. WAGNER, H. R. BURKE.

' Unnies'of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Batents,

Washington, D. 0., s 

